For my chess Blog I originally did all of my analysis using Fritz 12 and posted the games
using various online sites, most of which are now defunct and so the games on the Blog posts are no longer visible..
The
next way to post games was to analyze with Fritz 12 and post them with
Aquarium 2014. When I got Aquarium 2020 there were problems posting the
games, so it was back to the 2014 version.
Then
Fitz 17 came along and all the problems associated with analysis and
publishing game on the Blog disappeared. Today Fritz 17 is all I ever
use. Personally I think Fritz is more user friendly than Aquarium. Both
have pleasing and customizable layouts. The latest version of Aquarium
is 2024 and it can be download for around $50.00.
While
the functions overlap, Fritz is basically a program you can play
against and use for analysis. ChessBase is a database management
program.
Both
programs let you access a database in either ChessBase or PGN, format.
The ChessBase format is designed to save a huge amount of game related
data.
When
playing against Fritz you can adjust the level, it will give you hints
and talk to you. You can also do a full analysis (including adding
alternate opening lines with the game’s final results) plus you can add
your own notes.
The
current Fritz 19 comes in three versions. The Basic version has some
specialized opponents: Attacker, coward, swindler and an endgame wizard.
Cost: about $98.
Fritz with Fritz Powerboo which contains 25 millions opening positions. Cost: about $150
Fritz with Opening Encyclopedia which is more sophisticated and offers a number of other features. Cost: about $217.
ChessBase
performs searches of games based on players, exact positions,
tournaments or material. It also will create Opening trees of
variations, tell you how successful particular lines have been and it
will enable you to do training exercises. Unless you are a professional
or just wants a top of the line program this one may be overkill. Cost:
about $272
Chess Assistant 24 is a program for managing games and databases,
playing on the Internet, analyzing games, or playing against the
computer. To be honest, it’s my least favorite program and I have never
used it. Also, I am not crazy about the appearance of the interface.
Chess
Assistant includes several databases: the HugeBase with over 5 million
games. a Guru database which includes games of top players and a
Correspondence database of games between notable correspondence players.
There is also an Openings database in particular is the Openings
database. Chess Assistant 24 (download version) costs about $95, but at
the time of writing it’ on sale for about $75.
For
those looking for something free then Shane's Chess Information Database
is unquestionably the best free program available. It can can create
databases, run just about all engines and you can play against it or
online.
